Coal measuring and charging device.



PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

J. B. LADD. I GOAL MEASURING AND CHARGING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 11, 1903.

3 SHBBTS-SHEET 1.

INVENTDI? /5 M w/ msssss 7121/ Q5 11 TTORNEY.

PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

- J. is. LADD. GOAL MEASURING AND CHARGING 'DEVIGE.

APPLICATION I'ILED SEP'IQQI, 1963.

3 BEEETBSHEI2T 2.

INVENTUR Jpn, (51 M MA Aug ,4 rronnsr.

No. 783,209. PATENTEDTEB. 21, 1905.

J. B. LADD. r V

GOAL MEASURING AND CHARGING DEVICE.

AYPLIOATION' FILED B EPT. 11, 1 903.

3 BHEETB-SHBET 3.

WITNESSES: I INVEIITDR I I by M A TTUHNEY.

1 'UNITED STATES fatented February 21, 1905.

" PATENT OFFICE.

f "SALVAY COMPANY, CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COAL MEAS UFHNG AND CHARGING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,209, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed September 11, 1903. Serial No. 172,725.

. To all whmn it pea/y concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. LADD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wayne, Delaware county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ooal Measuring and Charging Device, of which the following is a specification.

l\Iy invention relates to coal measuring and charging devices, and is especially adapted for use in connection with coal compressing and charging machines for coke-ovens.

My invention comprises improved means for delivering a measured charge of material, such as ground coal, and is particularly adaptable for use'in connection with filling coal compressing and charging machines for coke- .ovens, such as is shown in United States Patent tome, No. 731,374L, dated June 16, 1903.

The object of my invention is to afi'ord im proved and eificient means for supplying such machines with a proper charge of coal without undue loss of time. In practice the ground coal is stored in bulk and is usually delivered to such compressing and charging machines in small quantities by means OfCODVGXBTS or small cars. Such devices. require consider-- able time to deliver a full charge. As the charging and compressing machine proper must remain idle during the time that it is receiving its supply of coal, its usefulness and capacity is directly reduced bythe time during which it is kept idle for this purpose, and as such machines should attend as manyovens periods of idleness should be reduced to a minimum. To'this end I have devised means -for delivering the supply of coalin bulk di rectly into the box-of the coal compressing and charging machine proper, so that it receives its supply of' coal without any appreciable delay. 7

1 use a charging-hopper sufliciently large -to hold a full charge of coal for the compressing and charging machine and fill this hopper by a conveyer during the time that the compressing and charging machine is engaged at the ovens. Thus the conveying of' the coal ,moved.

from the point at which it is stored to the point at which it is to'be delivered into the compressing and charging machine is performed withou t requiring the compressing and charging machine to remain idle, and the actual time consumed in delivering the chargeof coal into the box of the compressing and charging machine is only that required to open the hopper and allow the coal to drop down into the box. The time consumed by the compressing and charging machine at the ovens is always ample to permit of the charginghopper being filled by the conveyer, so that the charging and compressing machine always finds the hopper full of. coal when it returns to it for a fresh supply.

In practice the quantity of coal required to fill the box of the compressing and charging machine varies from time to time. Such variations are caused by a change in the quality .or grade of coal, the degree of fineness to which it is ground, and the percentage of moisture which it contains. Furthermore, in thetype of compresslng and charging machine referred to,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the capacity of the boX for loose coal is varied to. give the degree of compression required by any particular grade. It is therefore essential that means should be provided for varying the quantity of coal delivered by the charging-hopper into the box of the compressing and charging machine, and. for this purpose I have so constructed the charginghopper that its capacity may be readily altered to conform to the requirements of the compressing and charging machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my form of measuring and loading machine with a compressing and charging machine in place ready to receive a charge of coal. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on lines 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the charging-hopper as it would appear if the conveyer superstructure were re Fig. L is a vertical transverse section of the charging-hopper drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a similar transverse section of the charging-hopper as it appears when empty. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation, in part section, showing mechanism for controlling movement of the sides of the hopper. Fig.

6 is a detail elevation of elements 9, 10, and- 11 at right angles with that shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view, in part section, of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail of the chain-and-pulley means for operating the sides of the charginghopper.

The charging-hopper consists of two sides 1, which extend the entire length of the box of the charging-machine, and two ends 2. These ends 2 are rigidly attached to the superstructure 3. which supports the entire appa ratus over the charging and compressing machine, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The conveyer 4 runs directly over the top of thecharging-hopper in a trough formed of side channels 5 and bottom plate 6. It is driven by power in the usual way and receives the coal from the storage-bins by the chute 7, which is fed by gravity directly from the storage-bins or by other means, such as another conveyer. The bottom plate 6 does not extend over the charging-hopper, and therefore when the conveyer scrapes the coal along on it in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig.

1 the coal drops down into the hopper and accumulates in the hopper until it has become entirely filled, as is shown in Fig. 1. When the hopper is thus filled flush with the bottom of. the conveyer, the supply of coal through the conveyer should be shut off or the conveyer stopped. machine fails to'stop the supply of coal or the conveyer when the hopper is full, the conveyer scrapes the surplus coal over the top of the charge that is in the hopper into the wastechute 8, which delivers it to one side out of the way, as indicated in Fig. 1 In practice the flow of coal from chute 8 tells the attend ant that the hopper proper is full, and an ac-' cumulation of coal under chute 8 shows that the'attendant is not performing his duty.

The sides of the hopper 1 are supported near their upper extensions by heavy angles 9. which are riveted to their upper edges throughout their entire length, as indicated in Figs.'4 and 5. These angles 9 extend beyond the ends of the side plates 1 and rest on blocks 10, which are supported by the I-beams 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 6. The I-beams 11 form part of the superstructure and are supported by it, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The blocks 10 are free to slide along the I-beams 11 and may be moved to and from each other by means of the screws 12, which pass through them and engage with them with right and left hand threads, as shown in Figs. 4-and 5. One of these screws 12 may be rotated by the attendant in charge by the handchain 13,'which engages with the chain-wheel 14. .(Shown, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 3.)

The two screws 12 are coupled together and If the attendant in charge of the caused to rotate in unison by the chain-wheels 15 and the chain 16. (Shown in Fig. 3.) Thus by means of the hand-chain'13 the screws 12 may be rotated so as to cause the angles 9, and with them the sides of the hopper 1, to assume either of the extreme positions in which they are indicated by dash-and-dot lines in Fig. 4, in which the full lines indicate the sides of the hopper in their normal or average position. This Variation in the distance between the top of the sides of the hopper causes a corresponding variation in the capacity of the hopper, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and v which is attached to chain-wheels 20, which are keyed to the shaft 21, that runs the entire length'of theother side of the hopper and is supported from it by the brackets '22.

To permit the top of the sides ofthe hopper to be moved without'disturbing the contact of their lower edges, the loops on the eyebolts 18 are located under the center of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 4, in which position they serve as hinges for the lower edges of thehopper during the adjustment of the upper part.

Shaft 21 may be rotated by means of the worm-wheel 23, the worm 24, shaft 25, and hand-wheel 26, (shown in Figs. 4 and 6,) and thus the chain 7 may be wrapped up on the wheels 20, so as to draw the lower edges of the sides of the box together, -as shown in Fig. 4, or they may be released, so as to permit the bottom edges of the sides of the box to recede from each other, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the charging-hopper is full of coal, as indicated in Fig. 4, and the chains 17 are slacked off, the Weight of the coal tends to force the sides of the hopper apart and ordinarily causes them to move apart sufliciently to pass the full charge of coal. To prevent trouble from failure of the coal to open the hopper, chains 27 are used to cause the sides of the hopper to open to their maximum extent, as shown in 5, regardless of any assistance from the weight of the coal within. These chains 27 have one of each of their ends attached to the chain-.wheels 28, which are on the ends of the shaft 21, and their other ends attached to the fixed end of the hopper 2 by means of brackets 29 and the adjustable eyebolts 30. The chains 17 and 27 lead away from the shaft 21 in opposite directions, and therefore when the shaft 21 is rotated to rele'asc the chains 17 the chains 27 are wrapped tom of the hopper is due to the movement of IIO both of the sides, it is evident that in opening each side should move through only onehalf of the distance permitted by the slack paid off in chains 17, and therefore, as is clearly shown, chain-wheels 28 are made of only one half the diameter of chain-wheels 20,- so that the chains 27 cause the side of the box to which they are attached to move through only one-half of the distance which it would be permitted to move by the slack on chains 17 if the other side of the hopper did not move at all.

In order that the charge of coal shall be properly delivered down into the box of the charging and compressing machine, it is essential that both sides of the hopper shall move when the chains 17 are released, for if use.

one side were to remain fixed or to move not as far as the other side the charge of coal would be deflected by it and not delivered straight down into the box of the charging.

machine. To cause both sides of the hopper to move equally from the-position in which they are shown in Fig. 4 when the chain 17 is slacked off, they are coupled together by means of the levers 31, which are fulcrumed on the fixed end plates 2,as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and the rods 32, which are attached to these levers and are also attached tothe sides of the hopper by means of brackets 33 and braces 34, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7. Thus when the shaft 21 is rotated it and the side of the hopper to which it is attached are drawn by the chain 27 from the position in which they are shown in Fig. 4 to the position. in whichthey are shown in Fig. 5, and its mo tion is communicated, through the rods 32 and the levers 31, to the other side of the hopper, which is forced to move to an equal distance in the opposite direction.

The ends of thehopper 2 are supported from the main superstructure by the brackets 35 and the bolts 36, as shown in Fig. 4. These ends are also supported by brackets 37 and 38, which are attached to the sides of the hopper and serve to hold the ends against the pressure due to the weight of the coal when the hopper is full. The brackets 37 and 38 are arranged so as to permit the sides of the hopper to move freely, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The practical utility of my invention will be best understood by following the machine through the cycle which it performs when in Starting with the hopper full of coal, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the charging 'and compressing machine in place, the operator on the chargingand compressing machine rotates -the hand-wheel 26, and thereby causes the sides of the hopper to rececle from each other into the position in which they are shown in Fig. 5. During this motion thecoal drops from the hopper into the box of the compressing and charging machine. The operator then rotates the hand-wheel 26 in the reverse ,direction, and thereby closes the bottom of the hopper by bringing the sides back into the position in which they are shown in Fig. 4. If the charge of coal delivered into the box of the compressing and charging machine is too small or too large, the operator then rotates the chain-wheel 14 by means of thehand-chain 13, and thereby increases or diminishes the capacity of the hopper, so that the next charge of coal will be of the required amount. The charging and compressing machine is then caused to perform its other functions by the operator in charge of it. At the same time the operator in charge of the coal-supply and conveyer opens the gatewhich delivers the coal to the chute 7 and starts up the conveyer 4, which immediately begins to fill the hopper with a fresh supply of coal. In practice this filling of the hopper really starts before the charging and compressing machine moves away and, in fact, generally begins before the capacity of the hopper has been adjusted for the next charge, so that a very short interval of time elapses between the time that the hopper is empty and the time that it begins to receive another supply of coal. The conveyer 4 is allowed to run until the hopper is entirely full and coal begins to issue from the overflowchute 8. The operator in charge of the hopper then cuts off the supply of coal to the chute 7 and stops the conveyer. The hopper is then ready to deliver another charge of coal to the compressing and charging machine, and as the c-onveyer 4 is made of liberal capacity the hopper is always fun and ready to serve the compressing and charging machine before it has returned to receive another charge.

I do not confine myself to the special construction shown and described herein, as it is evident that other Well-known forms of conveyers would serve equally as well as the scraperconveyer shown on the drawings, and

similarly it is evident that the hopper might difl'ermaterially in general form and detail from that shown; It might be of materially different outline, and the mechanism for opening and closing it might vary considerably from that shown and still present the substantial'equivalent of the means herein described and claimed.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a charging-hopper having a movable side, a supporting-block for said side adapted to permit a pivotal movement of the side with respect thereto, stationary means for the slidable support of the block and means for moving said block thereon.

2. In combination with acharging-hopper having a movable side, a supporting member for said side near its upper extension adapted to permit' a pivotal movement of the side thereon and means for causing the, horizontal movement of said supporting member.

. 3. In combination with ajcharging-hopper having movablesides, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a rotative movement of the sides with respect thereto, and means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other. I

4:. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a rotative movement of the sides with respect thereto, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other and means for causing said rotative movement of the sides.

5. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides near their upper extensions, and means for causing the horizontal movement ofsaid supporting members toward and away from each other.

6. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides near their upper extensions which shall permit a limited rotative movement with respect thereto, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other and independent means for causing said rota tive movement of sald sides.

7. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a rotative movement with respect thereto and means for causing the simultaneous movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other.

8. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a rotative movement thereon, means for causing the horizontal movement of thesupporting members toward and away from each other and independent means for the simultaneous pivotal movement of said sides.

9. In combination-with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a pivotal movement thereon, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other, means for causing the simultaneous pivotal movement of said sides and means for coupling the lower extensions of said sides so as to insure an equality of pivotal movement between them.

10. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a pivotal movement thereon and means for imparting asimultaneous equal horizontal movement in opposite directions to the supporting members.

11. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides converging at their lower extensions, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a pivotal movement thereon and means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other.

12. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides converging at their lower extensions, supporting members for said' sides which shall permit a pivotal movementthereon, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other and means for causing said pivotal movement of the sides.

13. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides convergingat their lower extensions, supporting members for said sides near their upper extensions, and means for causing the horizontal movement of said supporting members towardand away from each other.

14. In combination with a charging-hopper havingmovable sides converging at their lower extensions, supporting members for said sides near their upper extensionswhich shall permit a limited rotative or pivotal movement with respect thereto, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other and means for causing said pivotal or rotative movement of said sides.

15. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides converging at their lower extensions, supporting members for said sides which shall permita pivotal movement thereon and means for causing the simultaneous movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other. a

16. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides con vergingat their lower extensions, su pporting members for said sides which shall permita pivotal movement thereon, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other and means for the simultaneous pivotal movement of said sides.

17. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides converging at their-lower extensions, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a pivotal movement thereon, means for causing the horizontal movement of the supporting members toward and away from each other, and means for causing the simultaneous pivotal movement of said sides, so that the movement of. one side shall be equal to that of the other. 18. In combination with a charging-hopper having movable sides converging at their lower extensions, supporting members for said sides which shall permit a pivotal movement thereon and means for causing a simultaneous equal horizontal movement in opposite directions to the supporting members.

19. In a charging-hopper for material, the combination of movable sides havingconverging lower extensions to form the bottom of said hopper, means for moving the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper and means for moving the lower extensions of said sides to open and close the bottom of said hopper.

20. In a charging-hopper for material, the combination of movable sides having converging lower extensions to form the bottom of said hopper, means for moving the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper, means for moving the lower extensions of said sides to open and close the bottom of said hopper, and means for feeding material to said hopper.

21. In combination with a movable charging-hopper, means for delivering material thereto and for scraping the surplus material therefrom to leave the same exactly filled comprising a platform adjacent the top of the hopper, an endless belt provided with a plurality of scrapers adapted to sweep the platform and {3011) of said hopper, and means for moving said )6 t.

22. Acharging-hoppercomprisingmovable sides, means for adjusting the upper extension of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper, means for moving the lower extensions of said sides to open and close the bottom of said hopper and in combination therewith means for delivering the material to said hopper until the same is filled.

23. A charging-hopper comprising movable sides, means for adjusting the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper, means for moving the lower extensions of said sides to open and close the bottom of said hopper and in combination therewith means for delivering the material to said hopper until the same is filled and scraping off the surplus of said material from said hopper to leave the same exactly filled.

2% A charging-hopper comprising movable sides means for adjusting the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper, means for moving the lower extensions of said sides to open and close the bottom of said hopper and in combination therewith means for delivering the material to said hopper until the same is filled, scraping off the surplus of said material from said hopper to leave the same exactly filled and carrying the scrapedoff material to any desired point.

25. In a coal-charging device, the combination of a hopper having adjustably-movable sides to vary the capacity thereof for any required charge, means of supporting said sides so as to permit pivotal movement thereon, means for causing said pivotal movement for opening the bottom of said hopper along the line of its middle longitudinal extension.

26. The combination of a charging-hopper having approximately vertical sides converging at their lower extensions to form the bottom of the hopper, means for moving the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper and means for causing the equal movement of the lower extensions of said sides so as to cause the opening of the bottom of said hopper along the line oi its middle longitudinal extension.

27. The combination of a chargiug hopper having approximately vertical sides converging at their lower extensions to form the bottom of the hopper, means for moving the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper. means for causing the equal movement of the lower extensions of said sides so as to cause the opening of the bottom of said hopper along the line of its middle longitudinal extension, and means for delivering coal to said hopper until the same is completely filled.

28. The combination of a charging-hopper having approximately vertical sides converging at their lower extensions to form the-bottom of the hopper, means for moving the upper extensions of said sides to vary the capacity of said hopper, means for causing the equal movement of the lower extensions of said sides so as to cause the opening of the bottom of said hopper along the line of its middle longitudinal extension, means for delivering coal to said hopper until the same is completely filled. and means for scraping off the surplus coal from the top of said hopper to leave the same exactly filled.

29. The combination of a charging-hopper having approximately vertical sides converging at their lower extensions to form the bottom of the hopper, means for causing the simultaneous movement of the upper extensions vand means for causing the movement of the lower extensions of said sides so that the movement of one side shall always be equal to the movement of the other.

30. The combination of a charging-hopper having approximately vertical sides converging at their lower extensions to form the bottom of the hopper, means for causing the simultaneous movement of the upper extensions, means for causing the movement of the lower extensions of said sides so that the movement of one side shall always be equal to the movement of the other and means for delivering coal to said hopper until the same is completely filled.

31. The combination of a charging-hopper having approximately vertical sides con verging at their lower extensions to form the bottom of the hopper, means for causing the simultaneous movementof the upper extensions, means for causing the movement of the lower extensions of said sides so that the movement of one side shall always be equal to the movement of the other, means for delivering coal to said hopper until the same is completely filled, and means for scraping off the surplus coal from the top of said hopper to leave the same exactly filled.

32. The combination of a charging-hopper having approximately vertical sides converg ing at their lower extensions to form the bot- Correction in Letters Patent No. 783,209.

' to the movement of the other to cause the the line of its middle longitudinal extension to secure an even and complete discharge of IO its contents at a single operation.

JAS. B. LADD.

tom of the hopper, means for causing the simultaneous equal movement of the upper extensions to secure the desired capacity of the hopper, and means for causing the movement of the lower extensions of said sides so that the movement of one side shall always be equal Witnesses:

MAE HOFMANN, A. O. VINGHESTER.

opening of the bottom of said hopper along It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 783,209, granted February 21, 1905, upon the application of James Ladd, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Coal Measuring and Charging Devices, was erroneously written and printed The Semet-Salvay Company, whereas the said name should have been written and printed The Semet-Solvay Company; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of March, A. D. 1905.

[SEAL.] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 783,209.

' to the movement of the other to cause the the line of its middle longitudinal extension to secure an even and complete discharge of IO its contents at a single operation.

JAS. B. LADD.

tom of the hopper, means for causing the simultaneous equal movement of the upper extensions to secure the desired capacity of the hopper, and means for causing the movement of the lower extensions of said sides so that the movement of one side shall always be equal Witnesses:

MAE HOFMANN, A. O. VINGHESTER.

opening of the bottom of said hopper along It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 783,209, granted February 21, 1905, upon the application of James Ladd, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Coal Measuring and Charging Devices, was erroneously written and printed The Semet-Salvay Company, whereas the said name should have been written and printed The Semet-Solvay Company; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of March, A. D. 1905.

[SEAL.] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correction m It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 783,209, granted February 21, 1905, upon the application of James Ladd, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Coal Measuring and Charging Devices, was erroneously written and printed The Semet-Salvay Company, whereas the said name should have been written and printed The Semet-Solmy Company; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of March, A. D. 1905.

[sun] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents. 

